an italian meal, revisited

As much as the concept of still living with my parents irks me, it definitely has it's advantages. In addition to the more obvious free rent, my darling father insists on taking us out to eat at least once every two weeks or so. Tough life, huh? Right before I embarked on Road Trip U.S.A., we ventured to Finalmente Trattoria. 

As I admired the beautiful sunset on our ride into Sleepy Hollow, I couldn't fathom the fact that I was really leaving tomorrow, that I was really going to drive all the way across the United States and back, and that I was really going to do it all by myself. I wasn't nervous, per se, but I was definitely anxious.

And yet I put on a face of pure excitement for our family friends. I didn't want to worry them, nor my parents... not yet at least ;). Thankfully, as you know by now, nothing really went wrong. The road trip went better than planned! I stayed safe, healthy, and honestly spent 99.99% of the journey, authentically happy.

[pre-dinner glass of Sangiovese]

Now I'm home again, safe and sound, with fantastic Italian food all around me. As the Jersey Shore so shamelessly exemplified, there is a very strong Italian and Italian-American culture in this region of the United States (although only a small percentage of it can be stereotyped into what they display, I assure you). 

[warm slice of Italian bread with extra virgin olive oil]

I grew up thinking that everyone had a handful of family-owned brick oven pizzerias in their neighborhood and was as familiar with Italian bread, fresh pasta, and prosciutto as they were with macaroni & cheese and chicken nuggets.

[Appetizers: frisée salad and fried calamari]

It was not until I went away to school that I realized not everyone had such a lucky childhood ;). What some others did have, however, was access to some of the best Creole, Mexican, Austrian, Japanese, and Vietnamese in the country, as I quickly discovered on my rides through their home states.

[bottle of organic red for the table]

I didn't fully appreciate the wealth of culture throughout the United States until I experienced it with my own senses. Po-boys and beignets in New Orleans really are all they're cracked up to be, eating Mexican food in southern Texas is a must, Kansas boasts a multitude of eastern European influences, and when visiting, one should be fed accordingly, get sushi in Los Angeles, (just do as I say, you'll understand,) and Vietnamese just may be my new favorite cuisine thanks to tofu-vegetable curry in Portland and pho (pronounced fuh) in Seattle.

[Entrées: fettuccine al forestal and lobster fra diavlo]

Then of course there are the true blue American classics like Southern hush puppies and grits (I recommend North Carolina farmer's markets and any restaurant in Savannah), fried chicken and waffles (it can be found amongst more sophisticated breakfast options at many Oklahoma restaurants), walleye (a river fish native to the northern midwest, I'm partial to South Dakota's offerings), cheese curds (the brainchild of Wisconsin's dairyland), Colorado beer and California wine (no explanation needed.) 

And if you happen to come by my neck of the woods, phenomenal plates like this one. Those many nights ago, I nearly died as I enjoyed the homemade spinach pasta in a pesto oil with haricot verts and garlic. Even just thinking about it...

[Dessert: decaf cappuccino]

Forget fast food, truth is, we really can eat well throughout the United States. Seasonal produce can be found almost everywhere, and for those less than healthy options, well, they  can be attributed to our ridiculously hardworking past of farmers and factory workers. Or, as in the case of Pittsburgh, miners. They inspired the infamous Primanti Brother's sandwiches that consist of a full meal between bread, fries and slaw included. So, the next time I eat out locally, I plan to make the most of the culinary riches surrounding my hometown. Maybe I'll even return to Finalmente Trattoria, a beautiful and delectable restaurant decorated with Baroque, Byzantine, and Venetian accents and intimately lit by Moorish sconces. It's certainly about time.


What fine foods can be found in your area? You know, in case I want to visit ;).